[Michael Harrington]

I was running a Beta version of Matrox the past few month in an effort to solve the dreaded static audio that happens when playing, stopping, playing quickly or quickly next/previous edits then play. I’m also having problems with my FSI monitor not updating as I color correct, have to reselect the timeline to get the monitor to update even-though the canvas updates. Anyway, I spoke with Matrox customer support, very helpful, and guided me to the most current version for my Matrox Max. So far the day has been without incident.

The problem was compounded by the fact that my canvas and/or viewer window will sometimes glitch green which of course shows up on my FSI. So I got Apple on the phone and convinced them to replace my ATI Radeon HD 4870.

Murphy has taken up residence and of course all this after 8 months work with just 3 days to review final with client.

The job is actually 3 jobs, DVD’s, separate projects shot on XDCAM and Go Pro approx 50hours, another on combination of XDCAM, P2, Z1U and JVC 80hr, the third is all HDV tape. Everything has been captured or converted to ProRes. Graphics are a combination Animation and ProRes, PS. AE, etc. FCP file sizes for each project are 120 – 150mb.

I’ll spend another sleepless night playing catch up and will report if the kernels continue, just hope my graphics card holds up till the new one arrives.

Michael Harrington
Mac Pro, Dual Quad-Core Intel Xeon 2.66 GHz, 12 GB, FCP7, Snow Leopard, ATI Radeon HD 4870, 30-inch Cine Display, 4 – 1TB internal, G Speed 6TB Raid 5, 1.25TB Esata, Numerous FW 800 external drives, Matrox MX02Max, FSI 17″ Broadcast Monitor, Black Magic Mini Sync Generator, Mackie 1402 & Event 20/20 monitors.

[Michael Harrington]

Yep, forgot to mention Flip4Mac, great tool to have.

If your client is playing back on big screen for meetings, conference, etc. Talk him in to installing Quicktime on his PC and make h.264 files. Probably the best quality while keeping file sizes in check. If lots of graphics are involved I think h.264 is a good route to go. Of course it would be nice to do a test or perhaps someone here with more in depth knowledge will guide you.

I’m not the best guy for web settings, I send my client all kinds, wmv, h.264, etc. and they throw about anything at it. Quality is not always their concern, they have a huge IT department with dozens of web sites and seem to manage whatever I give them.

Michael Harrington
Mac Pro, Dual Quad-Core Intel Xeon 2.66 GHz, 12 GB, FCP7, Snow Leopard, ATI Radeon HD 4870, 30-inch Cine Display, 4 – 1TB internal, G Speed 6TB Raid 5, 1.25TB Esata, Numerous FW 800 external drives, Matrox MX02Max, FSI 17″ Broadcast Monitor, Black Magic Mini Sync Generator, Mackie 1402 & Event 20/20 monitors.

[Michael Harrington]

The first question, as is always the case when delivering to clients. What is you client doing with these besides just playing on their PC, is it for review or perhaps eventually uploaded to web, broadcast, DVD, etc.

I deal with PC clients and export to wmv for review then deliver a much higher quality depending on delivery spec’s. The following settings are for client reviews. Depending on their use you may want to select higher quality settings. Your client can also download Quicktime for free and you can then export to h.264 or many other QT code’s, they can also play the wmv’s in Quicktime.

If you want reasonable quality with wmv for review, do the following.

From FCP select “Export”, Using “QuickTime Conversion”, Under “Format” select “Windows Media”, Select the “Options” tab, under “Profiles ” select “One Pass VBR-Presentation low, medium or high 16:9” for the quality vs file size you need. Adjust the sharpness to your liking, default is pretty good. Under the “Advance” Tab change the “Key frame every” to “1.0 sec.”

This will compress a reasonably good quality 640×360 16:9 wmv while keeping file size small and will play in Windows Media player. Now back to the first question, what exactly will your client do with this besides just play it on his PC?

I’m not a compressionist so if any others with more in depth knowledge or better way of delivering quality vs file size please respond.

Michael Harrington
Mac Pro, Dual Quad-Core Intel Xeon 2.66 GHz, 12 GB, FCP7, Snow Leopard, ATI Radeon HD 4870, 30-inch Cine Display, 4 – 1TB internal, G Speed 6TB Raid 5, 1.25TB Esata, Numerous FW 800 external drives, Matrox MX02Max, FSI 17″ Broadcast Monitor, Black Magic Mini Sync Generator, Mackie 1402 & Event 20/20 monitors.

[Michael Harrington]

Here’s another question, kinda off topic for this forum but relates to what I’m attempting with post VO record via my laptop.

I’d like to hook up a large monitor for VO talent to review from, see timeline video, as he reads to video.

I travel from afar to LA where I have a much older Mac system, G5 with older style Cine 23″ display given to an Ol’ friend. What do I need to hook that up to my Mac Book Pro, see specs in previous post. I also have an older Cine 22″ here with same older connections and do not match up to my laptop. I know I’ll need to bring the huge power supply but don’t know what monitor connector will work.

Michael Harrington
Mac Pro, Dual Quad-Core Intel Xeon 2.66 GHz, 12 GB, FCP7, Snow Leopard, ATI Radeon HD 4870, 30-inch Cine Display, 4 – 1TB internal, G Speed 6TB Raid 5, 1.25TB Esata, Numerous FW 800 external drives, Matrox MX02Max, FSI 17″ Broadcast Monitor, Black Magic Mini Sync Generator, Mackie 1402 & Event 20/20 monitors.

[Michael Harrington]

OK, got the Laptop headphone out to work so I can hear the timeline playback during VO record.

It’s a 8 day off road adventure, 22 custom built rigs travel through 4 or 5 states finding challenging trails. Primitive camping, dealing with the elements, no showers, wrenching into the night kinda thing. It’s for a magazine publication company, make sponsors happy, sell DVD’s, re-purpose for Broadcast and of course to appear on web site near you soon. It’s all run and gun capture the moment type production, extreme obstacles and iniquity to keep your rig together and make it the 8 days. if your into big trucks and off road you’ll love this DVD.

After editing a 2-hour DVD I record the trail masters/magazine editors VO, literally in his back yard, sometimes “in the moment” other times as post VO comments. Ambient matches everything else and the program tracks are full of engine noise and easily mask any birds chirping or freight trains. Typically I’d just point my Z1U tape camera at my laptop monitor, playback time line with TC window for each segment, rinse and repeat. Return to my home base, digitize, edit, mix output, send a review copy.

This year my turn around time is short so I figured why not use the VO tool, record, playback with client, get approval on site or address issues and get immediate final approval.

This is the set up:

Wireless Mic: Lectro 195 w/Sanken Lav & Shotgun (same used on location)

Mixer: Shure FP33 AC power Supply

Headphones: 2 – Sony MDR-7506,

Cables/Connectors:

2 XLR Cables 10′,

Laptop connectors, type/name

Headphone extension cable

Wireless mic & Shot gun talent and test and mix to match existing sound and pan to right channel. Shure FP 33 right channel out connect to Laptop mic in. Laptop headphone out to mixer and pan to left ear, right ear hears mic only.

Thanks for your feedback, gives me confidence this will work just fine.

Michael Harrington
Mac Pro, Dual Quad-Core Intel Xeon 2.66 GHz, 12 GB, FCP7, Snow Leopard, ATI Radeon HD 4870, 30-inch Cine Display, 4 – 1TB internal, G Speed 6TB Raid 5, 1.25TB Esata, Numerous FW 800 external drives, Matrox MX02Max, FSI 17″ Broadcast Monitor, Black Magic Mini Sync Generator, Mackie 1402 & Event 20/20 monitors.

[Michael Harrington]

So far this is good news, no one has said it’s not possible.

MacBook Pro 3, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.4 Ghz, 4GB Ram, Bus Speed 800Mhz. I have a MXO2 MAX in my edit suite with laptop adapter card, I know it has the capability, never used it in the field. I’d prefer to not dismantle the system or have the time to do all the set up testing prior to extended travel. When I return with VO I have just a few days to insert VO and prep files for the 2-hour DVD to make deadline.

I realize the MXO is probably my best bet, I’d still like to figure out the Laptop without MXO.

I was thinking of Media on separate drives while recording VO to second drive even-though everything goes through single bus?

Michael Harrington
Mac Pro, Dual Quad-Core Intel Xeon 2.66 GHz, 12 GB, FCP7, Snow Leopard, ATI Radeon HD 4870, 30-inch Cine Display, 4 – 1TB internal, G Speed 6TB Raid 5, 1.25TB Esata, Numerous FW 800 external drives, Matrox MX02Max, FSI 17″ Broadcast Monitor, Black Magic Mini Sync Generator, Mackie 1402 & Event 20/20 monitors.

[Michael Harrington]

I’ve recently experienced “Out of Memory” on a rather large project, none of the usual reasons existed in that project. I was fortunate in that a simple system restart, several times, and I was able to get through the job. Now I’m about to start another large project and looking for signs of out of memory.

I’m sure the experts will chime in and give you sound advice, in the meantime have you tried trashing your pref’s, repair disk permissions or even zapping your pram. Make sure you don’t have any large images in your project, FCP has a 4000px limitation, keep still images below 2500px when possible. Out of Memory also means you may have corrupt media.

Be sure all your system settings are good. Let us know if and how you solved your problem.

Michael Harrington
Mac Pro, Dual Quad-Core Intel Xeon 2.66 GHz, 12 GB, FCP7, Snow Leopard, ATI Radeon HD 4870, 30-inch Cine Display, 4 – 1TB internal, G Speed 6TB Raid 5, 1.25TB Esata, Numerous FW 800 external drives, Matrox MX02Max, FSI 17″ Broadcast Monitor, Black Magic Mini Sync Generator, Mackie 1402 & Event 20/20 monitors.

[Michael Harrington]

Yes, I’m on ver.10.6.8, this problem has existed since before this upgrade. THe VTR’s are plugged but not powered when the green glitch problem comes around.

I understand when not using the tape decks it’s not necessary to select external sync but it should still work. My biggest concern is that the Canvas and Broadcast Monitor are glitchy, why?

Michael Harrington
Mac Pro, Dual Quad-Core Intel Xeon 2.66 GHz, 12 GB, FCP7, Snow Leopard, ATI Radeon HD 4870, 30-inch Cine Display, 4 – 1TB internal, G Speed 6TB Raid 5, 1.25TB Esata, Numerous FW 800 external drives, Matrox MX02Max, FSI 17″ Broadcast Monitor, Black Magic Mini Sync Generator, Mackie 1402 & Event 20/20 monitors.

[Michael Harrington]

Yes, I’m hooked to a couple older tape decks I don’t often use so yes I could go without. Then again why do I have the problem I described earlier, particularly interested to understand the problem and be sure my graphics card is not faulty.

Michael Harrington
Mac Pro, Dual Quad-Core Intel Xeon 2.66 GHz, 12 GB, FCP7, Snow Leopard, ATI Radeon HD 4870, 30-inch Cine Display, 4 – 1TB internal, G Speed 6TB Raid 5, 1.25TB Esata, Numerous FW 800 external drives, Matrox MX02Max, FSI 17″ Broadcast Monitor, Black Magic Mini Sync Generator, Mackie 1402 & Event 20/20 monitors.

[Michael Harrington]

FYI, I just completed a render and out put of 1:45:00 sequence without Out of Memory issue. I kept settings as described earlier.

yea, they oda type